Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson will join Erik Schultz, Executive Director of the Arthur B. Schultz Foundation, and Ed Cannady, Recreation Technician for the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, in opening the Murdock Creek Trail on Thurs., Aug. 18 at 12:00 p.m. The Murdock Creek trail is a primitive-access wheelchair trail that is designed to maintain the character of wilderness while providing a greatly enhanced level of access for a wide variety of individuals with mobility limitations.

“It is an honor to be part of this historic event,” said Simpson. “I’ve had the great opportunity to work with Erik Schultz so that individuals with mobility limitations can access our state’s beautiful backcountry areas. The Murdock Creek Trail is the first of its kind in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and one of the first of its kind in the Nation. In addition, I look forward to the completion of the Phyllis Lake Trail upgrades as they will provide those with mobility limitations an incredible opportunity to enjoy a primitive high mountain lake experience.”

Recently the first mile of the Murdock Creek trail in the SNRA was upgraded to a “primitive-access” standard.  Primitive-access trails provide an enhanced level of backcountry/wilderness access for individuals with mobility limitations, including wheelchair users. However, primitive-access trails are not designed or required to satisfy guidelines for public access under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). “The Murdock Creek trail now provides better backcountry access for a wider range of individuals with disabilities while remaining in harmony with the wilderness resource,” said Schultz.

“The Murdock Creek and Phyllis Lake trails add a real backcountry access component to the already impressive diversity of adaptive outdoor recreation opportunities available in the Wood River Valley and SNRA,” said Cannady. “Collectively they make the region a truly world-class destination for outdoor enthusiasts with mobility limitations.”

 The primitive-access upgrades of the Murdock Creek and Phyllis Lake trails were made possible by federal funding secured by Representative Simpson. The Sawtooth National Recreation Area administered all trail construction, with funding for the initial Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Murdock Creek project provided by the Arthur B. Schultz Foundation, a charitable foundation based in Ketchum.